I have the 7004ABR, which is the non-wireless version, but I imagine it is very similar. I read in a review that the previous model (7004BR) used a different chipset and OS, but I don't recall the specifics of either. One thing I can say is that SMC upgrades their firmware frequently. They have had several releases in the short time that I've had it.
I actually bought the SMC specifically because the serial interface allows you to route a dial-up connection. They actually promote it as a broadband fail-over, but I needed it to route my dial-up before the DSL line was even available. The built in print server is also a nice feature, but I haven't tried it. The only complaints I have so far are with the 7004ABR's web interface performance and its "firewall" and "hacker logging". The web interface is a bit slow to load, particularly the GIF buttons. Not a big deal, but a little annoying considering I'm plugged directly into the box. The logs are my biggest complaint though. I am routing a Verizon DSL line with it and I have yet to see anything other than routine PPPoE log events. When I ran a single box directly connected to the DSL modem, Zone Alarm picked up everything you can imagine in the logs (particularly worm junk). Something definitely isn't working right with the SMC's logging. Additionally, the web based log viewer time stamp records almost everything as 1970/01/01. I have heard that some other brands of SOHO routers offer remote log-to-file capabilities. That would be a nice upgrade. SMC does have a brand new firmware release that I have yet to install, but I'm hoping it clears up the issues. Generally I've been pretty happy with the product though. -----Original Message----- From: Charley Hamilton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 11:39 AM To: Security Basics Mailing List Subject: Info on SMC Barricade Has anyone used the SMC Barricade (P/N SMC7004AWBR) for home networking/firewall/etc? (it seems to be a swiss army knife-type device) I've seen quite a bit about similar (apparently earlier) models on Practically Networked, awaremag, and the like. I was wondering if anyone had come across any real gotchas, including serious exploits. None were mentioned that I saw. If you've used it, do you have any comments on it? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Price seems right & the integrated features seem useful for a small home network, especially for those of us who are often too swamped by other work to learn to admin some *nix variant. Figured I'd ask before I bought. Charley -- Charles Hamilton, MS EIT Doctoral Candidate Department of Civil and Phone: 949.824.8694 Environmental Engineering FAX: 949.824.2117 University of California, Irvine Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
